Surf Taco Week 7 Boys Soccer Team of the Week: CBA

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Last year's run to the Shore Conference Tournament championship was a dominant one for the Christian Brothers Academy soccer team and the 11th such run the program has made in a tournament that came into existence in 1984.

Last week, the Colts captured conference championship No. 12 and while it was a much hard road to a championship, it was no less satisfying for this year's group.

Playing without senior All-Shore standout Will Thygeson for the last three rounds of the tournament, CBA finished off its championship march with wins over Colts Neck, Middletown North and Howell to capture a second straight SCT championship and the Week 7 Surf Taco Team of the Week award.

CBA's Shore Conference championship run began with the Colts pulling out a 3-2, overtime win over No. 16 Southern Regional, but it came at a cost as Thygeson injured his hamstring in the win. On Oct. 17, CBA overcame Thygeson's absence and a surging Colts Neck team to secure a 2-0 win and advance to the SCT semifinals for the fourth straight tournament. Junior Dimitry Corba buried a laser for the game's first goal, senior Jack D'Eletto scored an insurance goal and junior goalkeeper Miles Gallagher came up with a big save during the first half to keep Colts Neck at bay.

Junior Dylan Millevoi got CBA out to a 1-0 lead on Middletown North in the semifinals on Thursday with a 25-yard strike that dipped under the crossbar midway through the first half. Gallagher then came up with a point-blank save seven minutes later and as the game moved into the latter stage of the second half, the Colts appeared to be in control and on their way to another Shore Conference final.

Then, an unexpected hero emerged for Middletown North. Freshman Paul Que beat the CBA defense to a long ball out of the back and finished the equalizer in the 64th minute. Middletown North rode the momentum to a spirited 10 minutes before CBA could recover and begin to make progress with its own attack.

With no Thygeson to balance the attack, CBA turned to D'Eletto, who answered the call by hitting the shot of his life. The senior forward made a move to create separation from All-Shore defender C.J. Crolius and drilled a slicing shot that tucked into the upper-right corner of the goal, hitting the side netting with 1:19 left on the clock. The go-ahead goal held up and CBA was headed to the championship game in dramatic fashion.

CBA did not get its first goal of the championship game until the 45th minute, when junior Cameron D'Alterio headed in a cross from Millevoi. The Colts did, however, add to the lead, with junior defender Lawrence Mancino clanging a shot off the right post and in for a 2-0 advantage in the 61st.

Howell made CBA sweat with its first goal of the game in the 65th, but the Colts clamped down and held the lead to win the championship.

CBA will next begin its defense of the South Jersey Non-Public A sectional title as the No. 1 seed in this year's tournament. The Colts beat Notre Dame to win last year's title, then lost to Seton Hall Prep in the Non-Public A championship game.

2022 Team of the Week Winners

Week 1: Middletown South

Week 2: Point Pleasant Boro

Week 3: Marlboro

Week 4: Matawan

Week 5: Howell

Week 6: Middletown North